2020 Grow Your Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project

Rowan County has a population of 20,898 as of 2010 census, 3057 (15%) are seniors that are 55 or older. 18 % of the seniors live in poverty in Rowan County and have limited access to fresh produce.  FCS Agent initiated a program called Grow Your Vitamins in 2017 and continue on going with goal of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.  

For the 4^th year, Extension collaborated with the Rowan County High School FFA members, Instructor, and Morehead State University farm and MSU Farm student workers to provide sweet potatoes to the senior citizens in Eastern Kentucky.

Extension has taught FFA students about the sweet potato production and the nutritional value.   Over 16 bushel of white and red sweet potatoes were distribute to seniors at our last Farmers Market in Rowan County 2020. Over 300 clients from eight different counties were allow to fill a plastic grocery bag, many took multi-bags of potatoes to family and neighbors that were shut in from the virus, also free recipes and informational materials were given out to each.   Sweet potato and seasonal vegetable culinary face-to-face classes will be continued in the community when the virus allows.

FCS Agent and the FFA Members grow free of charge sweet potatoes for senior citizens in Eastern, KY; the project began with serving only Rowan County and has expanded to eight Eastern Kentucky counties; clients came from Bath, Bracken, Carter, Elliot, Fleming, Mason,  Morgan and Rowan.    Recruited to the program were Rowan County FFA Advisor/Instructor, Morehead State University Farm and FFA Members. Four-200 foot rows of sweet potatoes where planted and harvested totally 16 bushels.   During the program, everyone learned to give back to their community, reduce hunger, plant science, nutrition, working as a team and identify one of the healthiest vegetables. During distribution day of 2020 only the High School Ag Instructor and Rowan County FCS Agent were allow to distribute due to the virus. Morehead State University’s Green House manager and MSU student workers have already prepared the ground for next year’s planting our four 200-foot rows our under plastic and ready for planting our potatoes for 2021. When speaking to the group of students that helped make this possible, the following was access.  

100% of the MSU students and High School FFA Members learned an important lesson of giving back to our seniors that have given so much to them

100% develop pride of working for others free

100% learned about growing sweet potatoes in quantity and the nutritional value of

100% of the senior citizens voted that this was a worth wild project and it should continue

100% of the work growing the sweet potatoes came from teenagers.    

*Over the past 4 years, the product has more than tripled in the production yield of sweet potatoes